The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-15
A COLD.BLOoDED FlEJD.
INHUMAN ASSAULT UPON A WO
NAN AND HER HUSBAND.
Mrs. W. H. Epps Fatally I'M lred BY
Blows ana Kicks From ALI.
Hutchinson.
COMPANION PIECE FOR TIE MA.
BORIS OUTRAGE.
The Would be and Probably Success
fal Murderer Escspes-Highly
Connected.

An assault bordering on the hide.
ously fendish occurred about 7:3e
o'clock last night at the corner Of
Bradshaw and Austin avenues, near
Capt. Csrnes's Bellevue stock farm. In
some Of the features 1t surpasses the
celebrated Majors assault OF last Feb.
ruary, from the fact that the principal
sufferer Is irail, delicate woman, and
the sssailant 9 young white man,
strong, we'll developed and robust.
Living In Q small one-story rough
plank house, at the intersection OF
the avenues named above, Is q fam.
lily Of eight named Epps, mother,
stepfather and six children. They fol.
low the unpretentious calling Of truck
farming, supplying number Of peo-
pc In the city with vegetables every
morning. The place belongs to Mr..
James X. Wooten, who resides at II
Pontotoc street, and is run as part.
nership concern between Wooten snd
Epps. Living with the family until
Wednesday, was young man named
ALI Hutchinson, q brother in.law OF
wooten. Hutchinson slept on the
place at night in order to get an early
morning start for the city with his
market wsgoD, generally taking din.
ner at the home Of his sister on Pom.
totoc street.
Both Epps aud Hutchinson were ad.
dicted TO moderate drinking, but
sometimes carried Il to excess, and
when In that condition were rather
quarelsome. Thus q warm enmity
sprang up between Hutchinson and
the Epps family, frequently resulting
in war Of words. For some reason
unexplained the young man gave up
his position on Monday or Tuesday
last, and was supplsnted by q step. son
Of Epps named Vaughn. When the lat.
ter drove up own the day aiterwa ard,
he was met on Poplar street, between
Main and Front, by Hutchinson, who
went through his account books and
took possession OF one. The same
evening he appeared ut the house Of
Epps, Whole vile endsavored to per.
made him 10 surrender Il. Refusing,
she said II would be advertised for
and q reward offered, which would
undoubtedly result In tracing Il TO him
In public way. To this he striugently
objected, leaving the place In q rage
but without violence 10 the family.
About o'clock last evening he
quietly visited the Epps home again
when the request for the book was 70.
newed by the wife. He Offset the de,
mand by claiming counter indebted.
nees, and said he wonld SELF, the
wagon for settlement. Mrs. Eyps pro.
tested that he would do nothing OF the
kind, and started toward the house
from the garden, where the alteration
occurred. Hardly was her face turned
from Hutchinson when he dealt her Z
severe blow across the back with q
stick, knocking her eenseless for mo
ment. ReviviDg, she started on run
for the hou,e, but was dealt another
blow with the same weapon, this time
with only slight effect. The screams
a the aaaulted vile attracted hei
husbsnd, who was eating supper
underneath shed In the
rear OF the house, and h,
started 10 her rescue. He was recaIyed
by the insanely Infatuated young bruts
with q telling GLOW actoes the head
with . heavy sipRletree, which fslled
him to the earth. Qiickly rising Il
his ieet, another blow was inflicted
rendering him temporarily uncon
scious. Mrs. Epps again appe.red
when Hutchinson dealt her q stun
ning blow across the head with
the sinsletree, aud az she EEL
he seiied her by her long blacl
hair and dragged her half xay arount
the house, where he left her, after ad
ministering five or ak vicious kick,
about the lower part oi the stomsch
The husband recovered sufficiently h
make his way into the housa and %
cure pistol, with which he fred tw,
ehots NJ the aseailant, but, dared an,
nervous, his aim was insccurate an,
Hutchinson again laid him out by
third blow.
The children Of the family were Al
too young n render assistance, and o
none OF them were encountere,
hutchinson dropped bic wespon
grabbed hat from the head Of on
oil the boys and ran away. At a gro
Gerry store about 100 yards distant b,
sent tmall colored boy 10 the hon,
Tor horse, which was secured. Sine
then he has no, been seen by anyon
VINO knew him, except possibly hi
brother-in.lsw and family.
A lew neighbos ha.sened 10 IN
scene a. rapidly - possible after IN
foi nation Of the Occurrences resche,
them, ard summoned Drs. Er.kin,
and Sawyer. Shortly sf'srvard Nj
wo oten app'a'ed and offered all IN
assistance within his power. The phy
slciane, alter critical exsmlnstiou O
the injuries on both, gave II a. thei
opinion that Mrs. Epp. could no, po.
.ibly survive and wonld probably al
before morning Her worst In
nries are internal. The husband
while painfully and seriously injured
Ia IN no great danger.
Cspt 0'Haver and an ArPEAl r,
porter visited the home Of the irjure
couple last night, and gathered m
facts n given above. The lady we